Morning journal and courier., 1887-01-29
CHRISTIAN SOCIALISM.

| The Christian SUBSTANTIALLY as
Related to SOciaI1sm-Spec.al Leo
lures.
Rev. Washington GLADDEN. gave the last
| lecture of the Lyman Beecher course in the
Marquand chapel yesterday afternoon before
a large audience. The subject was "Chris-
| tian Socialism Is Christianity socialistic
| or may socialism be Christianized. The
Christian religion is not indiYidualism. 1t
| is evident that the economics of Ricardo can
| be adjusted to no philosophy but heathen-
ism. The survival of the ittest is the logical
basis of the old economy. The Christian
religion recognizes the fact that this princi-
Pile is at work and seeks to hold it in check
and we insist that man is gradually rising
above its domain. Human progress means
throwing off the brute inheritance. Natur-
ally the other extreme from individualism is
resorted to, i. 9. socialism. Every intelli-
gent Christian approves of the ends at which
socialism aims. Socialism proposes to ex-
tend the function of the State. All Chris
tians claim the right of the powers of the
State. The purpose of both is to help those
most in need, to establish justice for all
least and greatest, for poor and for rich.
They demand that the State refrain from
planting and watering monopolies which are q
burden to all, especially to the poorer classes.
Here laisser faire stops, but our subject
takes further. It is evident that the weaker
the municipal government is, the wickeder
it is. It is easy to sneer at sentiment in
politics. and high class of journalists are
proficient in it. The life of the policeman is
not an ideal one; it elevates neither his mind
nor hts character. The development of ma
tional life, and finally its completion is the
end of the state. Its duties require more
than police functions.
The Christian State should furnish an
amount of instruction and require its citizens
to take the advantage of it. This is a social
istic measure; it requires more than police
functions. Sanitary supervision is a func
ton of the Christian State; it must discour-
age the parasites which are
fattening upon the industries:
most stringent measures should be adopted
in regard to criminals, the pauper class and
the gamblers and spectators who, in econo-
nomics, belong to the same class as the beg
CARS and thieves. Neither give anything to
society. Again, the Christian State should
aim at the suppression of the saloon, which
directly and Indignantly assails the commu
nifty. All must arise against it and do battle
prudently and consistently. It seeks to pro-
hibit Sunday labor, which is purely social
istic measure. "The liberty of rest for each
requires the law of rest for ALL" It will be
compelled to limit the hours OF labor in some
or all industries; to enforce the sanitary in
spection of factories, workshops and mines;
to carry on certain great enterprises for the
protection of the public welfare. The post
Office, for example, is a most efficient and be-
nign institution, and the telegraph should be
in the hands of the government. for another
example. To-day we are paying
a good rate of interest upon four
times the cost of the lines
which the companies are running
Laisser faire shows no signs of solving the
railroad problem. Some measures of State
regulation and control are indispensable.
Craftsmanship is the highest type of art and
is to be studied by the ones practicing it.
ALI fail unless they recognize the law of
Christ; all evils have their root in moral
causes and are to be remedied by the remedy
for all evil. Individualism exalts the man
and neglects his environment. Socialism
deals with the environment and neglects the
man hence both are wrong. We are working
for better society in which to live and for
better men to live in it so we come back to
the starting point the words of the master.
Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at
hand" Never was there better day or
louder call for preachers Of righteousness.
The students have enjoyed DR.. Gladdens
course very much and all are sorry that it
has come so soon to an end The special
lectures will be discontinued for the present
DR.. John Hall, of New York, will deliver
lectures after time.